Rail-bender



1. KALEMBA.

RAIL BENDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. m1.

1 ,3 14,334; Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

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JAN; KALEMIBA, 0]? SUN, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAIL-RENTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

Application filed April 19, 1917. Serial No. 163,174.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAN KALnMnA, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, residing at Sun, in the county of Fayette and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Benders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail benders.

It'is a well known fact that the bending of rails by that type of rail bender comprising a yoke and screw, causes a distortion of the rails, that is, an unequal strain is put upon either the ball, web or base of the rail causing that particular portion of the rail to be bent out of proportion with the other parts thereof. It is further noted that due to this bending action it becomes difficult to properly spike the rails to the device.

One important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of rail bender wherein this distortion will be eliminated.

It is also well known that a considerable amount of the force used in bending rails with the ordinary type of rail bender is lost for useful work by reason of the fact that while the distance between the yoke arms in the bender remains constant the length of the rail between said arm increases with the bending due to the curvature produced, the are of a circle being of course longer than the chord of such are. Therefore a second important object of the invention consists in the provision of an improved rail bender wherein the rail may readily slip at the yoke ends so that the increase in length, abovementioned, will be effected without great frictional losses.

lVith the above and other objects in View, as will be hereinafter apparent the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a rail showing the bender applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail View of the swivel at the end of the screw.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of clamp block to be used herewith.

In carrying out the objects of this invention the main portion of the bender is provided in the form of a yoke 10 through the center of which extends a screw 11 carrying on its outer end a capstan head 12 so that a crow bar or lever may be inserted in the walls in the head for the purpose of turning the screw. At each end of the yoke 10 there is provided a clamp block frame 13 substantially of U-shape, the ends of the legs of the U being directed inward toward each other as at 14 forming retainers. On the inner end of the screw 11 is provided a link or frame 15 through the end of which extends a stem 16 connected to a clamp block frame 17 similar to the frames 13. Within the link or frame 15 the stem 16 is provided with a collar 18 held in position by a suitable through pin 19 so that by this means the frame 17 is swiveled to the screw 11. In each of the retainer frames 17 and 13 there is mounted a pair of clamp blocks 20 which have their confronting faces so shaped as to fit the head and foot of the ordinary rail 21. Moreover between the upper and lower ends of these blocks 20 each block is provided with a roller 22 so arranged that they may bear against the sides of the web of the rail 21. These blocks are forced together, when desired, by means of screws 23 having polygonal heads 24:. Now by means of this arrangement the rail 21 can not twist in bonding since the clamp blocks will all be held parallel. Moreover the swiveling of the frame 17 permits free operation of the screw in either direction so that the rail may be bent toward the bow of the yoke or away therefrom with equal facility. By this construction the yoke 10 may always lie, in op eration, outside of the track so that correc tions to the curvature of rails may be made while the track is in use by properly shaping one of the clamp blocks 20 to permit the passage of the wheels of the train.

In the form of clamp block shown in Fig. 4 and indicated at 25 the rollers 22 are elimi nated.

It will be obvious that these clamp blocks may be made of different sizes to fit different sized rails and that they can readily be removed from and replaced in their frames.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore d'eiredto ceiifi'ne the inveiition to the exact form herein shown and described butit is Wished to include all --such 'asproperly" come Within the scope claimed. 7 or v Having thus described the invention,' What is claimed as new, is

A rail bender comprising a yoke, a substantially U-shaped clamp lock frame at each end of said yoke, a jack-screw mounted centrallyof said yoke, a U-shaped clampfilock frame swiveled to the inner end of said ack screw, the terminals of the frames bent inwardly in the direction of each other to form I retainers, pairs of spaced. clamping blocks ltopiea ofthis patent be obtained for mounted .in said frames and held against outward movement by said r etainers, the

confronting faces of said blockshaving spaced longltudinally extending grooves to bending action thereof. 7 V in testimony whereof I haveaflixed my signature. V V 'f-JAN KALEMBA.

Witnesses: V

H. MALONE; K. MALONE? five ceiits each, by'addr'essing the"Gommiss ioner of Patents, Washington, nc. 

